Abstract This study aimed to explore the association between use and need of dental prostheses to the quality of life in elderly individuals in a Referral Center for Elderly Care in the northeastern of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was developed with 199 elderlies of both sexes. Data were collected from clinical examinations (WHO criteria) and a questionnaire regarding socioeconomic status, Oral Health Impact Profile index (OHIP-14) by a single calibrated examiner with Kappa = 0.91. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test, Poisson regression (p<0,05). The sample consisted of 84.9% women, mean age of 70.02 (sd±6.50) years. There was an independent association between quality of life and the covariates sex and need of dental prostheses. Men showed lower values of the score (PR = 0.734, p = 0.011) than women. Individuals without normative need for dental prostheses showed lower values of OHIP-14 (PR = 0.767; p = 0.003) than those in need.